Display package



April 29, 1947. L. TRECEK DISPLAY PACKAGE Filed March l, 1943 Patentedt Apr. 29, 1947n 2,419,745 DISPLAY PACKAGE Louis Trecek, Madison, Wis., assigner to The Celon Company, Madison, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application March 1, 1943, Serial No. 477,545

This invention relates to a container, and especially to a container for articles of merchandise for personal use such as toothbrushes, hairbrushes, and other articles which it is desirable to package so that they may be displayed for sale while being protected against contamination, and deterioration from handling, dirt, moisture and ambient atmosphere.

It is well known that a shrinkable material such as regenerated cellulose has been employed in packaging articles or material where it is desired to form the wrapper about an article in an extremely tight manner and to utilize all of the pressure resulting from the shrinking of the material. It has also been proposed to provide resiliency in a package so that when the wrapper is shrunk, the pressure exerted on the article because of the shrinking of the wrapper will not damage the article by breaking or otherwise, particularly if the article is brittle, such as some kinds of cookies or candy tablets or disks.

The present invention, however, is for packaging articles in a container or wrapper made of shrinkable material and utilizing the pressure, created by the shrinkable characteristics of the wrapper, to be applied directly to the article to lock the article in immovable, fixed position inside of the container and, at the same time, prevent fragile or other non-rigid parts or elements of the article from being damaged r distorted by the pressure applied to the article because of such shrinkage. Therefore, the primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a rigid framework or support for supporting an article within a container or covering of shrinkable material and utilizing the pressure resulting from the shrinking of the material to securely and immovably lock the article within the covering or wrapping but preventing said utilized pressure from being applied to a fragile or non-rigid part of the article, whereby there is no danger of distorting or otherwise damaging the fragile or non-rigid parts of the article while maintaining the article in iixed, rigid position on the support.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a rigid frame or support for supporting a toothbrush in such a manner that the bristles thereof will be spaced from a part of the frame so that when a shrinkable tube of material is applied over the frame supporting the brush, the frame and brush will be locked together as a unit but the bristles will be protected vfrom damage.

Further objects of the invention are the pro- 11 Claims. (Cl. 20G-44) vision of simple and efficient means for attractively packaging articles of merchandise so as to display them for inspection and sale and at the same time preserve them in antiseptic condition and ready for immediate personal use; the provision of an attractive, ornamental display container, such as a carton or Wrapper, for attractively displaying such articles; and the provision of a neat, durable package for such articles which will maintain them in air-tight, moistureproof condition and protect them against darnage and deterioration due to handling and the wear and tear incident to their display and sale while permitting visual inspection of them eX- teriorly The stated objects of the present invention are attained by shrinking abouta suitable frame, with an article in place thereon, an envelope or covering of hydrated or moist regenerated cellulose, or other suitable material, which, upon drying, takes the form or outline of an object or frame to which it is applied. The article maynot, but preferably does, form a part of the sup-. The envelope is prefer. ably transparent, at least in part, and the framef port for the envelope.

may or may not be transparent. If the frame is:

f, not transparent, it is preferably provided with', suitable open portions to permit adequate display of the article. Portions of the envelope and", frame may be colored as desired to make an attractive package. The frame may be of any suit-v able material, including Wood, metal, or plastic., and may be shaped ordinarily to conform with; the shape of the article to be packaged. It is de sirable that the frame be artistically designedfl and decorated to present a very ornamentali package.

This invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying dra-wings, and while there is shown therein preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the same are susceptible oi modiiication and change without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment of the invention, and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, central sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3--3 of Fis. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal, central sectional view of a modied form of the invention;

Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are sectional views similar to that of Fig. 3 but of other modified forms of the invention.

The particular arrangement herein disclosed for the purpose of illustrating the invention cornprises a frame II having a base I2, upstanding end portions or supports I3, intermediate upstanding portions or article supports I4 and I5, and cutaway portions i6. The frame II as shown is wooden but may be of any suitable material. The end portions and intermediate upstanding portions may be formed integrally with the base.

or may be secured thereto in any suitable Vmanner as by gluing (as shown) or by soldering, by welding, by means of screws, or otherwise, according to the material of the frame and the intended contents of the container. The base and upstanding portions of the frame are of such form and dimensions and so spaced and arranged as the shape and size of the article to be packaged requires for a durable and suitably protective package. In the case of the toothbrush I'I, shown in the drawings, the end portions I3 of the frame have their upper ends cut away to provide rests or supporting ledges I8 and I9 for the opposed ends of the toothbrush; and the intermediate supports I4 and I5 are of different height to conform to the shape of the article. The rests IB and I9 and the upper edges of the supports may be shaped, for example, curved, V-shape or otherwise conformed with the shape of the article. Shrinkable material 20 is applied over the article and its supporting frame, causing the brush Il to be pressed tightly against the vertical supports IS, I3, I4 and I6, with the extreme ends of the material overlapping the end supports I3, I3 as indicated at ZI. The frame construction is such as to provide a suitable space l between portions of the article, such as the ends of the bristles 22 of the toothbrush, and the base of the frame as indicated at 23 in Figs. 2, 6, '7.

The cutaway portions I6 are of such configuration and are so spaced and arranged as adequately to display desired portions of the contents of the package. If desired, however, such portions may beomitted. As in the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the frame on the other hand, may be more skeleton-like and provided with spaced longitudinally extending base members 23 (see Fig. 6) suitably connected with end portions similar to the members I3 and with or without intermediate supporting members similar to the members I4 and I5, the arrangement being such as to aiold practically unobstructed view of the contents of the container in whatever position it may be. Or the frame mal7 have the conguration shown in Fig. 7. In this latter arrangement end portions similar to the end portions I3 of Figs. l and 2 are connected by three sidewalls 24, 25 and 25, which may be formed integrally or connected together in any suitable manner. These side walls have openings 21, 28 and 29 similar to the openings I6 in Figs. 1 and 2. In this form the frame is entirely open along one side to afford a full side view of the contents of the container and the intermediate supports I4 and I5 of Fig. l are omitted,

When a suitable frame has been provided for the article to be packaged and the article placed in position with respect to the frame, the envelope or band 20 of hydrated or moist regenerated cellulose, which may be cylindrical or .frame and article.

envelope, article and frame thus assembled are then set aside for a suitable period of time to allow the envelope to dry and shrink upon the When the envelope has become dehydrated it will have the form shown in Figs. Al and 2, its main portion rmly gripping the exterior of the article, which forms a support for it, and the frame and the overlapping ends nrrnly gripping the outer surfaces of the end portions I3. There is thus formed a neat package with the article in position with respect to the frame and .sealed against ambient atmosphere. The shrinkable envelope locks the article to the frame in immovable relationship, protecting the article in sealed fashion and maintaining the fragile part against damage or distortion.

It will be readily understood that the envelope, the frame and the article may be suitably treated with antiseptic material before forming the package and may be hygienically handled in assembling them so that the article will be available in antiseptic condition when the container is broken.

Changes may be made Vin the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. A package unit employing the shrinkable characteristics of a hydrated material which shrinks when the material` is dehydrated to lock tightly an article to a support and still prevent the said shrinkable characteristics of the material from damaging-or distorting a fragile part or parts of the article and comprising an article support, an article having a fragile part supported by the support, and a tube of hydrated material enveloping the support and article and in physical contact with a nonfragile part of the article and with the support to lock securely and tightly the article to the support when the material is dehydrated, said fragile part being spaced from the support to prevent damage thhereto upon shrinking of the material.

2. A package unit which utilizes the shrinkable characteristics of a hydrated material which shrinks when dehydrated and comprising a frame having a base and upstanding supports, an article supported on said supports and having a side opposite the supports exposed and constituting a part of the frame, and a tube of material which shrinks when dehydrated encasing the frame and article and having physical contact with said side and with said frame, whereby the article will be pressed againstl the supports to lock tightly the article to the frame.

3. A package unit which utilizes the shrinkable characteristics vof a hydrated material which shrinks when dehydrated and comprising a frame having a base and upstanding supports, an article supported on ysaid supports and having an exposed side opposite the supports and constituting a part of the frame, and a tub`e of material which shrinks when dehydrated encasing the frame and article and in physical contact with the frame and said exposed side, whereby the article is pressed against the supports to lock tightly the article to the frame, said tube being longer than the frame and extending over the end of the frame to form an airtight covering about the article.

4. A package unit for packaging a toothbrush having a body portion and a bristle portion and comprising a frame including a base and end supports, a toothbrush. having its body mounted on the supports with the bristles extending toward the base whereby pressure on the body will not be transmitted to the bristles to cause damage or distortion to the bristles, and a -tube of shrinkable material surrounding the frame and brush and having physical contact with the frame and body portion, whereby the brush body is pressed tightly against the supports by the shrinking characteristics of the material.

5. A package unit for packaging a toothbrush having a body portion and a bristle portion and comprising a frame including a base and end supports, a toothbrush having its body mounted on the supports with the bristles extending toward the base whereby pressure on the body will not be transmitted to the bristles to cause damage or distortion to the bristles, and a tube of material having shrinkable characteristics surrounding the frame and brush and in physical contact with the frame and the brush body portion, whereby the .brush body is pressed tight- 1y against the supports when the material is shrunk, the ends of the tube extending over the end supports and forming a tight seal therewith, whereby the brush is secured to the base and the bristles are maintained undamaged and the entire brush is hermetically sealed by the tube.

6. A package unit for packaging a toothbrush having a body portion and a bristle portion and comprising a frame including a base and end supports, a toothbrush having its body mounted on the supports with the bristles extending toward the base whereby pressure on the body will not be transmitted to the .bristles to cause damage or distortion to the bristles, a tube of material having shrinkable characteristics shrunk over the frame and brush and in physical contact with the body portion and frame, said shrunk tube pressing the brush body tightly against the supports, the ends of the tube extending over the end supports and forming a tight seal therewith, whereby the brush is secured to the base and the bristles are maintained undamaged and the entire brush is hermetically sealed by the tube, and intermediate supporting means between said end supports to support the brush intermediate its ends.

7. A' package comprising a base having upstanding members to support an article of merchandise, an article supported on said members in spaced relation to said base, and a tube of hymembers when the material is shrunk thereabout.

8. A package comprising a frame having a base and upstanding ends to support an article of merchandise, an article supported on said ends in spaced relation to said base, and a tube of hydrated shrinkable material about the article and base and adapted for physical contact with the article and base to lock the article against said ends when the material is shrunk thereabout, the ends of the tube extending beyond the frame ends and lying flat against the outside surfaces o said fra-me ends.

9. A package comprising a, base having article supporting means to support an article of merchandise, an article supported on said supporting means in spaced relation to said base, and a tube of plastic sheet material enveloping and shrunk about the article and base and tightly embracing the article and base to lock the article against said supporting means.

10. A package comprising a frame having a base and upstanding ends to support an article of merchandise, an article supported on said ends in spaced relation to said base, and a tube of plastic sheet material enveloping and shrunk about the article and base and tightly embracing the article and base to lock the article against said ends, the ends of the tube overlying the outside surface of the frame ends to form a tight seal therewith.

1l. An airtight, germ-proof package for an article having a fragile part and comprising a holder having an elongated body portion, upstanding ends on the body portion, upstanding supports on the body portion between the ends, an article having its ends receivable between the upstanding ends and supported on the supports, the supports and upstanding ends supporting the article to keep the fragile part away from the body portion, and a tube of regenerated cellulose over the holder and article and squeezing the article against the holder with the fragile part of the article spaced downwardly and away from the body portion.

LOUIS TRECEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,107,280 Fouyer Aug. 18, 1914 1,179,800 Corswell Apr. 18, 1916 2,174,924 McCleary Oct. 3, 1939 1,937,468 Talbot Nov. 28, 1933 2,197,506 Moss Apr. 16, 1940 2,029,131 Shoemaker Jan. 28, 1936 2,179,880 Dodge Nov.l 14, 1939. 

